.STRONG AND GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS ARE DEVELOPING THIS MORNING
AHEAD OF A DEEP LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRANSITIONING THROUGH THE
UPPER MIDWEST. WINDS WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING AS THE LOW
PRESSURE FILLS AND CONTINUES TO MOVE EAST AWAY FROM THE REGION.

Snowfall depth forecasts have been downgraded for northern Cook County from 6"-8" to 4"-6". Most of Lake County and a small part of northeastern Cook County are in the forecast area for 6"-8". Most other regions are also downgraded, but snow is still expected.

With the precipitation of the present winter storm system already beginning, the precipitation has been mainly rain across the area. Temperatures are above freezing, and snow might not begin until about 6:00 p.m. That's the good news for rush hour commuters.

The bad news is that a Winter Storm Warning could still be activated later today or this evening. The area of heaviest snow could still shift south toward Interstate 88. The timing of freezing temperatures and heavy precipitation are a major factor. One thing is certain: The snow will be heavy and wet "Heart Attack Snow."

.A DEVELOPING STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE PLAINS
INTO MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT.
PRECIPITATION...MAINLY IN THE FORM OF RAIN...IS EXPECTED TO
DEVELOP AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS
AND NORTHWEST INDIANA DURING THE DAY THURSDAY...BUT AS THE STORM
SYSTEM DEEPENS OVER THE AREA LATE THURSDAY RAIN IS EXPECTED TO
CHANGE QUICKLY TO WET SNOW AND MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES. SNOWFALL
RATES MAY EXCEED AN INCH PER HOUR IN SOME LOCATIONS WITHIN THE
WATCH AREA FOR A FEW HOURS...PARTICULARLY THURSDAY EVENING. THE
STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA EARLY FRIDAY...THOUGH
SNOW SHOWERS MAY LINGER THROUGH MIDDAY ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHWEST
INDIANA.

STILL AND BOX WITH A FIRE ON THE ROOF AND 10TH FLOOR OF THE OLD POST OFFICE BUILDING OVER CONGRESS PARKWAY. PROBLEM WITH STANDPIPES AND GETTING WATER TO UPPER FLOORS. FIRST FIRE FOUND WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH HAND EXTINGUISHERS. MORE FIRE FOUND, BUT STANDPIPES WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. TOWER LADDER FED WATER TO UPPER LEVEL. SQUAD 1 WASN'T AVAILABLE -- WORKING ON ELEVATOR RESCUE ON RANDOLPH. SQUAD 2 WAS REPLACEMENT. STAGING WAS AT CANAL AND VAN BUREN. EMS PLAN 1

Most snow expected to fall just before evening rush hour. Lake Effect Snow could still clip areas near Lake Michigan and the Illinois-Indiana state line. Lake Effect Snow warnings have been issued for Northwest Indiana tonight.

Heaviest snow currently forecast up to 6 inches along a line from downtown Chicago to the southeast side of Chicago and along the Illinois-Indiana border. The heaviest snow is expected to be from mid-evening Friday to pre-dawn hours. North snowfall forecast? Highland Park gets snow; Highwood gets snow showers. Snow forecast shows target on City of Chicago and border suburbs, and northwest Indiana (more snow forecasts below).